An elderly homeless man has died sleeping in his car outside a men’s homeless shelter after overnight temperatures plummeted.
Dominic, aged in his 80s, was discovered dead inside his white Landcruiser, which was parked outside St Vincent’s Men’s Crisis Centre in Adelaide’s CBD early Sunday morning.
His devastated friends believe Dominic succumbed to the chilling temperatures, which dipped down to 3C overnight.
Shocked staff at the shelter described Dominic as a kind gentleman who kept to himself.
‘You know, I really teared up because he was a very polite man,’ Thomas Gaye told 7 News
‘He comes out here and sleeps in his car. He can go in there but, you know, he sticks to himself like a lot of guys do.’
It’s understood that Dominic, who had his entire belongings packed inside his vehicle, had a bed at the shelter available for him- an offer that he often declined.
He chose to sleep in his car outside the facility because it was where he felt the safest.
Dominic, in his 80s, chose to sleep in his Landcruiser (pictured) as he felt safer in the car. All his possessions were inside, which can be seen in the rear window
Dominic was discovered dead in his car on Sunday morning in Adelaide’s CBD. The temperature plummeted to just 3C overnight
‘Not everyone is perfect in there (in the shelter). You’re rubbing shoulders with all sorts of life,’ shelter client Jay Kellett said.
Another resident had just left the shelter to catch a bus recalled seeing someone desperately banging on Domini’s car window after coming across the sad discovery.
The Landcruiser was later towed away by police and will be returned to Dominic’s closest relatives.
Dominic’s tragic death highlights the urgent need for more permanent housing for Australians who have been forced to sleep rough or who rely on shelters for a night’s sleep.
The federal government has announced a plan to tackle homelessness and lack of social housing, which comes into effect on Monday (July 1).
Worth a whopping $9.3billion, states and territories must match the money put forward by the Anthony Albanese government over the five-year agreement.
NSW is set to receive $2.82 billion – the most funding – while Victoria was allocated $2.36billion.
Dominic was found dead inside his car outside the St Vincent’s Men’s Crisis Centre in Adelaide’s Whitmore Square (pictured)
The ACT will get the smallest amount of the funding allocated – just $157.4million.
The Northern Territory was allocated $290.2 million – despite the Top End having 12 times the national average of homelessness.
Additionally, Aussies who get the Commonwealth Rent Assistance will receive a ten per cent increase upon the maximum amount given, which was announced in May’s federal budget.
But Australian Council for Social Services chief Cassandra Goldie said the increase would mean a single person would gain just an extra $9.40 weekly, if they are receiving the maximum rate.
Ms Goldie also said that people would still be in ‘deep housing stress’ if on JobSeeker or Youth Allowance as they would still be paying half of their payment on rent.
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